The Tail of the Raccoon: Secrets of Addiction

"The Tail of the Raccoon: Secrets of Addiction" is a scientific short story set in the Eastern Woodlands of North America. The story follows the adventures of a raccoon, called Sign Tracker, and other inhabitants of the Great Forest. What is unique about the story is that the adventures of the raccoon are based on scientific studies of the hidden and overlooked causes of drug addiction. As noted in the Educational and Scientific Commentaries that are included with the story, sign-tracking is a well-established scientific phenomenon which speaks to the remarkable power of reward cues to control and direct behavior. This story is designed to appeal to all ages. Children are charmed by the antics of the raccoon, while, at the same time, they learn how actions can become disconnected from intention. For college students and adults, reading the story is nostalgic of a more innocent time, and yet, the storyline clearly delivers a message about the underlying causes of drug addiction.